May 29, 2009 - Art teacher Mary O'Connell plans to brush up on her "Guitar Hero" skills in preparation for her summer externship with Vicarious Visions Inc., which develops new versions of the video game for various video game systems.

O'Connell, who teaches at Shaker Junior High School, was awarded the externship through the Tech Valley Teacher Externship Program, which provides middle and high school teachers with opportunities to gain experience in high-tech environments throughout Tech Valley.

Menands-based Vicarious Visions developed "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock," "Guitar Hero: On Tour," and numerous other video games that feature famous characters such as Batman, Spider-Man, the Muppets, Tony Hawk and more.

The summer externship program exposes teachers to careers in math, science and technology fields and educates them about skills necessary for the future workforce in Tech Valley. Teachers work with leaders in cutting-edge technology companies from throughout the region to gain:

• Exposure to advancements in their fields of study

• Tangible examples to bring back to their classrooms

• Valuable insights into the demands and challenges of the modern workplace

• Understanding of the skills necessary for our present and future tech innovators